Weather Matters

Category: Tropical storms and hurricanes

UPDATE: A low pressure area in the Florida Straits was given a 30 percent chance of developing by the National Hurricane Center. The system, designated Invest 92L, was producing winds of up to 35 mph to the east of its center, which was off the north coast of Cuba and southeast of the Florida Keys. Forecast models show it moving west across the Gulf of Mexico.

The NHC was watching three areas in the Atlantic for possible development. (Credit: NHC)

ORIGINAL POST: A taste of fall Florida style paid a visit to Central and North Florida [More]

A new area of low pressure 200 miles east of the Leeward Islands has grabbed the attention of the

Path of the Galveston Hurricane. (Credit: NWS-Tampa)

HURRICANE HISTORY: Today is the 116th anniversary of the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history. The Great Galveston Hurricane walloped the Texas coast with winds over 130 mph and a 15-foot storm surge. The storm destroyed more than 3,500 homes and killed more than 8,000.

The 1900 hurricane was the subject of the 2015 book, Storm of the Century, by TV weather [More]

5 PM UPDATE: Winds were adjusted upward in the latest advisory to 45 mph, and forecasters said Hermine would top out at 70 mph — but possibly achieve hurricane strength — when it makes landfall late Thursday in the Florida panhandle. The forecast track was again adjusted to the west, but Northeast Florida was under a tropical storm watch.

A flood watch is in effect for coastal Palm Beach County — and most of South Florida — through Wednesday morning. (Credit: NWS-Miami)

5 PM UPDATE: Tropical Depression Nine was not upgraded to a tropical storm, but forecasters said strengthening was still likely over the next 12 hours as the system — now off the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula — moved northwest at 5 mph. A hurricane watch and a tropical storm watch were issued for parts of the Gulf Coast from the Florida panhandle south into Northwestern Florida, just north of Clearwater.

11 PM UPDATE: The structure of Tropical Depression Nine was improving, the National Hurricane Center said, but tropical storm force winds were not found with the system so it remained classified as a depression. An upgrade to tropical storm status was forecast for the 5 a.m. Tuesday advisory.

5 PM UPDATE: Tropical Depression Nine remained disorganized today, but the National Hurricane Center said forecasters still expect it to become a tropical storm by Tuesday morning. A tropical storm watch or hurricane watch may be issued for parts of Florida’s Gulf Coast on Tuesday. (Credit: NHC)

11 PM UPDATE: The NHC shifted the cone of error slightly to the right. Forecast maximum strength for the system increased to 60 mph by Thursday, when it’s expected to make landfall.

5 PM UPDATE: Invest 99L finally earned an upgrade from the National Hurricane Center Sunday, becoming Tropical Depression Nine. Forecasters predicted it would be promoted again to a tropical storm on Monday as it heads west-northwest in the Gulf of Mexico. They also said the storm would turn toward the north on Tuesday [More]

8 PM UPDATE: The game of tropical weather ping-pong continued with the latest National Hurricane Center outlook as chances of development of system 99L near the coast of Cuba were edged up again to 40 percent over two days and 50 percent over five days. Forecasters said the system would be in the Gulf of Mexico by Monday where conditions are more favorable for tropical storm development. “Gusty winds and locally heavy rainfall are probably occurring over portions of the Bahamas, and this activity will spread into parts of southern Florida and the Florida Keys by Sunday,” NHC forecasters said.

8 PM UPDATE: The NHC forecast for 99L has it heading into the Gulf of Mexico. Two-day and five-day chances for development were cut again to 20 percent and 50 percent respectively. The two other yellow cones on the map had a 10 percent chance of development over the next two days. (Credit: NHC)

2 PM UPDATE: The National Hurricane Center bumped up two-day chances of development for Invest 99L to 30 percent, but said upper-level winds remain unfavorable. Forecasters said that although shower activity had increased over the last few hours, the system remains disorganized and the convection is to [More]

8 PM UPDATE: The chances of tropical development of the low in the Bahamas was slashed again by the National Hurricane Center — to 30 percent over the next two days and 60 percent over the next five days.

“Overall, environmental conditions are not expected to be as conducive for development of this system as anticipated earlier this week,” forecasters said. “However, upper-level winds could become a little more favorable over the weekend or early next week when the system is expected to be near the Florida Keys or over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico.”

Winds as strong as 57 mph were measured by Hurricane Hunter aircraft earlier today over system 99L, although no well-defined circulation was found, according to a National Weather Service briefing from Miami. Forecasters said residents should be ready for a possible tropical cyclone “anytime between Saturday night and late Monday.”

Since the system may not develop until it gets into the Bahamas, “there is the possibility that warnings could go up with less than the usual time to put actions in place,” briefing materials noted. “This accentuates the need to review your plans now and be ready to act in short notice [More]